Ms. Marvel Disney+ Show Adds Bollywood Guest Star

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Posted:
Ms. Marvel logo, Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, Farhan Akhtar

After experiencing several delays, Ms. Marvel is inching closer to its Disney+ premiere in June, meaning that marketing has been ramping up in the past weeks. The upcoming MCU series will showcase a brand new character who will be portrayed by newcomer Iman Vellani, and it will revolve around Kamala Khan's transition into the titular superhero. 

Ms. Marvel s set to introduce the MCU's first Pakistani-American hero, thus pushing for more representation in the franchise. This move is also cemented in the show's growing cast, as more stars from Pakistan and India have joined the project. 

Indian-American actress Anjali Bhimani (Runaways) was reported to have joined the cast of Ms. Marvel in a recurring role while Pakistani film and TV actress Mehwish Hayat was also confirmed to be part of the ensemble. 

Now, a Bollywood talent has been reported to have joined Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel Adds Another Bollywood Talent 

Ms Marvel
Marvel

Deadline shared that Farhan Akhtar is part of the cast of Marvel Studios' Ms. Marvel. Akhtar's role is still being kept under wraps, but the outlet mentioned that the actor's role is in a guest-starring capacity. 

Akhtar has an impressive Bollywood resume, with him being known for movies such as Dil Chahta Hai, Rock On!!, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and The Sky is Pink. The actor also has a multi-year partnership with Netflix via his and Ritesh Sidhawin's Excel Entertainment, which is based in Mumbai. 

Akhtar joins a stellar ensemble, which includes the likes of Mehwish Hayat, Anjali Bhimani, Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, and lead star Iman Vellani. 

Ms. Marvel's Stellar Cast is Growing 

Farhan Akhtar's inclusion in Ms. Marvel is significant, mainly because of the actor's incredible Bollywood career. That said, it's possible that Akhtar will have a substantial role in the Disney+ series, considering his star power in the world of Bollywood.

Given the actor's guest role capacity, the possibility of seeing Akhtar portray one of the show's villains, who are rumored to be the ClanDestine, could be scrapped due to the fact that these foes are expected to have a major role in the series. 

Despite that, it's possible that Akhtar could portray one of Kamala's neighbors in the series or a notable member of the community. Akhtar may even play a role as one of Kamala's high school teachers or even a long-lost family member

Whatever the case, all will be revealed when Ms. Marvel premieres on Disney+ on June 8. 

- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.